Provincial Health Care

However, the Canada Health Act (CHA) adopted in 1984, specifies the conditions and criteria with which the provincial and territorial health insurance programs must conform in order to receive federal transfer payments under the Canada Health Transfer mandate. The Canadian healthcare system, therefore falls under a check-and-balance system where Federal transfers to Provincial programs must conform.

The Key features of the CHA are that provincial programs must be:

Publicly Administered

Comprehensive

Universal

Accessible, and

Portable

Private Employer-Sponsored Group Benefit Coverage

Employer-sponsored plans that “wrap around” and supplement provincial health care programs are not permitted to cover any services available under public plans.

That said, procedures covered and levels of coverage vary significantly from one province to the next. Furthermore, over the last few years most provinces have delisted services, potentially shifting costs to employer-sponsored plans. For example, in 2005 the Ontario health Insurance Plan eliminated physiotherapy coverage (in most cases) for residents between ages 19 and 65.

Some level of prescription drug benefits is available to all seniors (over age 65) and people on social assistance, but only British Columbia and Quebec have more extensive coverage.